Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-01-08
UNCLE RUFUS REVENGE.

"Dod durn dem pestiferous boys" nut
tered old Rufus White, in the seclusion of
the wOodhouse, where, over a fire i'll the
Old cracked stove, he was cooking dis
gushing looking connection i'll n very dis
reputable black kettle.
"Doggon dem boys! amt had minnits
peace o nina sence de pair on 'em done
come ter visit der uncle, de perressah.
Hits 'ole Rufus here an hits ole Niger
dar, till dry's putty nigh wored de berry
soul ouen my body. An deys inter cherry
ting an up 10 all tings. an der uncle he
dess sets an moons an don't pay no ten
ton tail TO EN-. Wy, dess dis yer morn
in" he added, wrathfully, "w' at did de
young scounrels do but kotch my ole
speckle domnicker rooster an pick him ez
wild Fem, fnst ting dey knows, is, she's
yer BAUM
He stirred the seething mess savagely,
AMI dropped in decayed shoe.
Oats de game" he chuckled. Shoe
waterll fix 'em, ! regsin. Bully fer de
magic shoe waterl"
The roaring fire soon reduced the old
shoes, of which there were seycrai, TO II
kind of fabby pulp. This the old max
presently fshed out OF the kettle. The
contents of the pot now con i>tcd of a dirty,
brownish, sinking liquid, with an abomin-
able taste-the magic shoe water.
on-a-a-y, Uncle Rufus, are you in
there" bawlel a voice, accompanied by a
vigorous knocking on the door of the wood
house.
Wat yer want, honey" replied the old
man.
Want to git in. You're mean OLD mig
ger to keep Us out.
n, -, L.. ~.
in befo kaZs | was maxim sumfin'
mighty line, answered old Rufus, opening
the door.
The boys, a pair of young demons at
best, trooped in.
"Hoo,' snorted one Of them, viewing the
shoe water sconfully. Call that mighty
fine? Why. its nasty"
"Mebby hi. is, honey, maybe hit is; but
dat airs de wonderfullcst stuff yer ebe1
seed OATS d. powful shoe water wat
makes dc pusson lucky W at drinks hit"
Huh! Makes EN- lucky? What is it
made of"
Honey, co Sc yer know dat boss shoes is
allus lucky. Wal, if yer takes an cooks
EN- in puak water like Is done"
"What punk water"
"W'y, hits lucky water watts found in
boiler blackberry stumps, an hit'H dribe
away spooks an ha'nts cherry time. Wal,
Sc eff hits lucky, and loss shoes is
lucky, bofe on EN- is bound ter be pow'ful
lucKy-ef Yer drink huff oh it, he added
III an untcrono.
How do you make the horse shoes soft,
Uncle Rufus"
"W'y, dc punk water is so strong dat
hitll solve de shoes dess ez eazy ez a
postum I'D skin up tree"
"ILcoee" shouted the other demon.
"Gmme some shoe water, Uncle Rufus.
want TO be lucky"
"Me, tool" added his brother.
"No, chillen," said the old man, SOL
EMMY, as he set the kettle with its vile
contents away to cool. Hit amt good fer
leetle boys; hits too fine fer em. 'Tain't
best fer childen ter be lucky, nohow."
He turned to leave the wood house, add
ing as he did so:
Don't yer touch dat ar shoe water vile
rs gone. Wouldn't have Yer git lucky fer
nuffin in de world. Now, min wat tells
Ar"
AS soon as he had disappeared the de-
mons set about filling themselves as full as
possible Of the vile shoe water. The
abominable taste aud outrageous odOr OF
the filthy liquid made the victims gag anG
reich, but in spite of all opposition they
succeeded in absorbing nearly quart each
OF the yillainous liquor. When Uncle Ru-
fuS returned the kids We're very white
apout the mou hs, and were Lusily engaged
in clasp.ng the pits of their respective
stomHchs with their hands.
"OLo." chuckled the old man, $50 you've
be II drin'iin' my nice shoe water. Didn'
You know hit was ste alin'? Wal. now you've
got hit. won't be mean; take some mo
shoe water. hitll make yer lucky, sho.
And, as he spoke he offered dipper leve
full of the sinking fluid 10 each in turn
As the ,odor assembled their nostrils, the!
rose with one accord and rushed out of the
building, and, moment later, old Rufus
| could hear them frantica'ly endeayoring t.
| relieve themselves of their whole interna
economy. Presently they returned, look
| ing very pale aud sick.
Putty sick, amt yer? Wal, done tole
| ger hit was too strong Ter chillen."
"Rut, ARE we lucky now, Uncle Rufus?
| queried one of the victims.
ITO be sho yer is, chile; to be sho yer is
lucky-er else yer wouldn't be alibe artel
drinkin' dat ar" he added, in an undertone
but what would it do if Uncle Humboldt
| was to drink it? Would it make him lucky?
| was the next question,